Back lock for studio couches



June 3, 1941. H. w. NEUNHERZ BACK LOCK FOR STUDIO COUGHES Filed Dec. 17, 1938 2 Sheets-Shes. l

(Arie/3 June 3, 1941. H. w. NEUNHERZ. 2,244,470

BACK LOQK FOR STUDIO CQUCHES Filed Dec. 1'7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED STATES FATENT QFFECE BACK LOCK FOR STUDIO COUCHES Herbert W. Neunherz, Gardner, Mass.

Application December 17, 1938, Serial No. 246,400

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the type of convertible couches known as studio couches in which the back is in vertical position when it is to be used as a couch and in horizontal position when used as a bed.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a simple and solid means by which, when the back is raised slightly from its normal upright position and unlocked, it can be swung on a pivot into its horizontal position and then moved inwardly toward the main part of the bed to take up the space which is left by the pivoting of the back into horizontal position; to provide a construction in which the back is conveniently locked in vertical position and just as conveniently unlocked by raising it and by which it is held in its horizontal position; to provide a bracket on each end of the couch, inside, having guides and notches, one for allowing the vertical motion of the back and involving a support for the pivot when the back swings and the other for receiving the pivot when the back is moved up to complete the bed, and to provide a very simple and strong construction by which this operation can take place and by which the back can be held in either the horizontal or vertical position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Fig. 1 is a side view of the rear end of the couch showing the parts in full lines in their couch position and showing the back in dotted lines in the position it assumes when the back is first turned to horizontal position;

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the brackets which is used to secure the results mentioned above;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the end board of the main frame with this bracket attached to it in position for operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is another View of the bracket showing the bottom of the back located above it;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the back after it is brought down into locking position;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fi 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an end view showing the back brought down by swinging it to its horizontal position and showing the space which has to be filled by the movement of the back toward the main frame of the couch, and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are three views similar to Fig. 2 of modified forms of the brackets.

This invention is shown as applied to a studio couch made as usual with the main frame comprising an end board l0, which is all that is shown of the frame in the drawings, and with a back ll having a foldable caster l2, as usual. This back is provided with a pivot stud I3 on each end and with an extension 14 below it having a notch I5 for locking purposes.

On the inside of each of the end boards [0 of the main frame is secured a bracket l6 and it is spaced from the board It] by means of rivets H and collars 50. This bracket at the bottom is provided with a projection l9 at right angles to it for receiving the notch l5 and holding the back firmly in vertical position. It is obvious that the back has to be raised to release the notch Hi from the projection IS in order to permit of the turning of the back about the pivot stud iii.

For the accommodation of this motion a vertical guide 20 is provided in each of the brackets IS in which the pivot stud I3 is adapted to move up and down. When the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 this pivot stud rests on the bottom of this guide. When the back is raised for releasing it the top of this guide prevents an accident by raising the back too far. It is in this position, as shown in Fig. 9, that the back is swung over to horizontal position. A pin 25 helps hold the back in vertical position and in horizontal position.

In order to close up the space, thus left between the two cushions or mattresses Iii and Ila, the back is then pushed forward. The pivot stud passes over a cam surface 2| into a recess or notch 22 where it will be held against rising by the top surface in this recess and Where the mattress I la on the back will be in contact with the mattress l0 on the front. Of course, when the back is again to be raised the first action is to draw it back to the position shown in Fig. 9 and then it can be turned on its pivot located at the bottom of the guide 2!! and the parts will come into the full line position in Fig. 1. This construction locks the back in its vertical position and also in its horizontal'position by reason of the recess 22 and the pivot l3 preventing the raising or depression of the back at its front end.

The form of the bracket 26 shown in Fig. 10 accomplishes a similar purpose but has no means for preventing the rising of the back. Here a vertical open topped guide 2'! receives the pivot pin l3 when the back is in vertical position and it is still in that guide after it has been turned over but it has to be moved up across the surface 28 into a notch 29 for closing up the space between the mattresses.

In the form shown in Fig. 11 a bracket 3V3 is substituted and this has a guide 3! which has the same advantages as the guide 29 and the inclined surface 32 for bringing the pivot stud !3 into the notch 29.

In the form shown in Fig. 12 a plate 33 is provided with a slanting guide 34 to bring the pin l3 into the vertical guide 35. In this case when the back is moved to close up the space between the mattresses the pivot pin l3 moves along a slot 35, connected with the guide 35, until it reaches the end. The action here when the pivot pin is in the end of its guide 38 is the same as in the first case described. In each of these forms there is a cam track, 2! and 36, supporting the back throughout its movement from the vertical to the horizontal and back, eliminating the necessity of lifting it. It is slid along surfaces with a small slope or curved. The 0peration is especially easy with this arrangement.

It will be understood that the parts are all duplicated on the opposite end of the couch so that the action will be uniform. In all cases the above advantages are obtained except where otherwise described.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

'1. In a studio couch, the combination with a main frame, of a back having a pivot stud, a bracket on the main frame having a projection for supporting the back in vertical position and the back having a notch at the bottom for looking it to said projection in vertical position, means carried by the bracket for restricting the motion of the pivot stud to allow the back to be turned about it as a center to'horizontal position, and means carried by the bracket constructed and arranged for holding the pivot stud so that the back may be moved forward to close up the space formed between the back and the main frame when it is first swung into horizontal position.

2. In a studio couch, the combination with a main frame, a mattress thereon, a back and a mattress thereon, of a pivot stud carried by the back, a bracket carried by the main frame and having a guide to receive the pivot stud and provided with a vertical portion for preventing longitudinal motion of the pivot stud when the back is turned over to horizontal position, said guide being provided with a substantially horizontal extension for receiving the pivot stud when the back is moved forward and holding the pivot stud from vertical motion, said guide and its extension providing means holding the pivot stud so that said mattresses maybe located in contact in both positions or" the back, and said bracket being provided with a single means assisting in holding the back in either position of the same.

3. In a studio couch, the combination with a main frame, a mattress thereon, a back and a mattress thereon, of a pivot stud carried by the back, a bracket carried by the main frame and having a guide to receive the pivot stud and provided with a vertical portion for preventing longitudinal motion of the pivot stud when the back is turned over to horizontal position, said guide being provided with a substantially horizontal extension for receiving the pivot stud when the back is moved forward and holding the pivot stud from vertical motion, said guide and its extension providing means holding the pivot stud so that said mattresses may be located in contact in both positions of the back, and said bracket being provided with a pin located so as to assist in supporting said backin either position andproviding a support for the turning action of said back.

HERBERT w. NEUNHERZ. 

